banana-tree unworthy to look at beautiful ugliness Yozakura shelter from the pouring rain welcome shadow in the sun Kim M. Russell, 2nd May 2019 My response to Carpe Diem #1655 Tan Renga Challenge (2) Beautiful Ugliness This month we are creating short chained verses or […]
Tag: Matsuo Basho
Passing Spring
ready for summer bare feet on nature’s carpet blossom-covered grass Kim M. Russell, 1st May 2019 My response to Carpe Diem #1653 passing spring (yuku haru) In the last episode of ApriI the classical kigo was ‘passing spring’ (yuku haru). We have an example of a haiku by Basho with this classical kigo: Spring passes […]
Photo-shopping Basho
autumn arrives breathing sighs into my ear a pillow of wind Kim M. Russell, 28th April 2019 My response to Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #82 Introducing a new feature: photo-shopping haiku This weekend we have a new feature, revising a haiku in a similar way to photo-shopping: just a little change to make the difference […]
Unexpected Bells
‘The temple bell stops but I still hear the sound coming out of flowers.’ Matsuo Basho Silence drips into the sodden solitude of a deep druidic wood, goose-pimple chilled and tangle wild. All at once, the path Is broken by a sunny glade scattered with spikes of new nettle growth and, ringing through the leafy […]
Radish
in the evening soup miso-soaked disagreement a piece of radish Kim M. Russell, 15th April 2019 My response to Carpe Diem #1647 Japanese-radish flower (daikon no hana) Today we have a classical kigo taken from the Shiki saijiki: Japanese-radish flower (daikon no hana). Apparently, daikon means ‘big root’ and is a long white crunchy […]
First Spring in Norfolk
My daughter and I moved to Norfolk in March 1992. We’d only had a few holidays here and were moving from the hustle and bustle of London to a small village on the North Norfolk coast with no street lights, a bus to Norwich twice a day – and we knew nobody. We threw ourselves […]
Warrior Dreams
in warriors’ dreams flames of homecoming lanterns carrion crows fly Kim M. Russell, 14th April 2019 My response to Carpe Diem Weekend Meditation #80 Quest for a New Masterpiece: summer grasses, also linked to Carpe Diem’s Light Retreat 2019: The Joy of Light Day 30 This weekend is another challenge to create a masterpiece inspired by […]
Nature’s Sacrifice
in nooks and corners cold remains: flowers of the plum © Yosa Buson (tr. RH Blyth) waiting to open petals […]
Grieving
hige kaze wo fuite boshu tanzuru wa tare ga ko zo who is it that grieves, the wind blowing through his beard, for late autumn? Matsuo Basho (Tr. R.H.Blyth) raindrops drip from willow leaves, pooling memories and leaves Kim M. Russell, 24th February 2019 My response to Carpe Diem #1613 Tan Renga Challenge Month 2019 […]
First Day of Spring
First day of spring– I keep thinking about the end of autumn Matsuo Basho (Tr Robert Hass) blending pastel and russet through vivid sunny colours Kim M. Russell, 13th February 2019 My response to Carpe Diem #1605 Tan Renga Challenge Month 2019 (9) first day of spring
writing in north norfolk 